Your First Stay at Washin Village — A Day in the Satoyama

Hello. We're Washin Village, a small satoyama village you can stay in, in Futtsu, Chiba.

The day before a first stay somewhere new always comes with a little flutter of nerves.

What will the room look like? How does mealtime work? Will we actually get to meet the cats? And if it rains, what do we do?

Many guests find Washin Village while searching for glamping or a traditional farmhouse stay in Chiba.

But your time here doesn't end with simply sleeping in a room.

You light a fire.
You wait for the charcoal to glow red.
Somewhere in the garden, a cat is going about its day, and you watch quietly from a little distance.
As night falls, the insects grow louder, and as morning comes, the light in the garden slowly brightens.

Moments like these, stacked one on another, become a day at Washin Village.

Start by settling into the satoyama air

Washin Village has four kinds of rooms: the kominka (a traditional farmhouse), the nagayamon (a converted gate house), Nordic-style tents, and the jyubako cabins.

Each room takes a different form, but every one of them keeps a connection to the outdoors.

Green fills the view outside the window.
Step outside, and there's a place to gather around a fire.
Somewhere in the garden, the cats are keeping their own pace.

You don't have to start doing anything the moment you arrive.

Set your bags down, take a short walk around the garden, and notice the smell of the trees and the sound of the wind.

That alone is enough to slow the pace of everyday life.

Evening begins with lighting a fire

Dinner at Washin Village starts with lighting a fire and waiting for the charcoal to glow.

You light the fire, cut the vegetables, and lay the ingredients on the grill as you watch how they cook.

Dinner here isn't a meal that arrives fully prepared for you — it's time spent by the fire, hands a little busy, tasting as you go.

In daily life, meals tend to get rushed through as quickly and conveniently as possible.

But on a satoyama evening, even the time it takes for the fire to catch, and the wait for the charcoal to settle, becomes part of the meal.

As your hands stay busy, conversation slows down.
Sitting by the fire, you stop rushing to think about the day.
The smell of charcoal drifts up, and the darkness outside slowly deepens.

The BBQ at Washin Village isn't only about the food.

Lighting the fire, cutting, grilling, waiting — it's time spent using your body differently than you usually do.

Stepping a little away from convenience is, in its own way, what lets you unwind.

Take your time and enjoy that kind of satoyama evening.

The cats live here

Washin Village is home to rescue cats.

Some come close to you; others watch from a little further away.

Which cat you spend time with, and how close they come, changes from day to day.

Don't chase them.
Don't rush to pick them up.
Just share the same garden, the same air.

That sense of distance is part of what we call "nekoji" (猫治) — a satoyama way of spending time, Washin Village style.

Sunny days and rainy days

On sunny days, dappled sunlight and starry skies suit this place well.

On rainy days, the sound of rain on the roof and the smell of wet greenery grow stronger.

On a rainy day, you might end up spending a little longer sipping coffee in your room while looking out at the garden.

With less time outdoors, the sound of the rain and the smell of the trees feel closer instead.

Not being able to choose the weather is also part of spending time in the satoyama.

For first-time guests

Washin Village suits people who want to enjoy nature, animals, and fire at their own pace.

Rather than packing your schedule, come with a little room to spare.

Spend the evening by the fire, then rest quietly in your room at night.

The next morning, step outside as the garden slowly brightens.

That alone makes for a very Washin Village kind of day.

It's about 70–90 minutes by car from the Tokyo area, and about 15 minutes by car from the Futtsu-Chuo IC on the Tateyama Expressway.

We'd love for this to come to mind whenever you want to slow down, even a little, in the satoyama of Futtsu, Chiba.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easy to stay here for the first time?

Yes. If you enjoy nature, animals, and time around the fire, you can relax here even on your first visit. It helps to check the room type and meal details in advance.

Do we prepare the BBQ ourselves?

Yes. BBQ at Washin Village means lighting the fire, preparing the ingredients, and grilling them yourselves. It isn't a meal that arrives fully finished, but waiting for the charcoal to catch and working with your hands by the fire is very much part of the Washin Village way of spending time in the satoyama.

Can we still enjoy it on a rainy day?

Yes. Rainy days bring a different side of the satoyama, such as the sound of rain and the smell of wet greenery, different from a sunny day. Umbrellas are available to borrow.

Are we guaranteed to see the cats?

The cats live at Washin Village, so where they spend time and how close they come varies day to day. Some cats come close, and some keep their distance.

Can we bring our own pet?

Since September 2025, Washin Village has not been accepting guests' pets for overnight stays or day visits. This is a policy to protect the safety and wellbeing of the animals who live here.

If you can picture a little of what time at Washin Village feels like, take a look at the room types and availability too.

Check availability See photos on the official site →

Wait for the fire, watch the cats keep their own pace, and let your body slowly settle into the satoyama air.

First-time guests, please don't rush.

We look forward to meeting you at Washin Village.